DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Drawings
The drawings remain objected to because the following claimed features lack a reference numeral and it is unclear where each of these features specifically are located in the system:
the inboard hub connecting portion;
the outboard hub connecting portion;
No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/(a)(2) as being anticipated by Dudurovic et al. (US 2017/0030501 hereinafter “Dudurovic”).
In regards to claim 1, Dudurovic discloses a subsea fluid flow tubular connection system with an inboard hub (54) in fluid connection with piping of a subsea hydrocarbon exploration or production system (53) and an outboard hub (61), the subsea fluid flow tubular connection system comprising;
a tubular saver sub (70, 90, 120) of fixed length (it is noted that when examining an apparatus claim the prior art need only show the claimed invention at one instant in time; in this case at any one point of time the sub is locked at fixed length); with
an inboard hub connecting portion (90) in sealing contact with the inboard hub at a first end; and
an outboard hub connecting portion (71) in sealing contact with the outboard hub at a second end;
wherein the first end and the second end of the tubular saver sub are complementary, such that the inboard hub and the outboard hub are capable of sealed engagement in the absence of the tubular saver sub (see at least paragraph [0002]).
In regards to claim 2, Dudurovic further discloses the tubular saver sub has an outer diameter greater than a length between the inboard hub connecting portion and the outboard hub connecting portion (shown in fig. 3).
In regards to claim 3, Dudurovic further discloses the tubular saver sub is connected to the inboard hub at the first end with an inboard hub clamp (bolt 125; unscrewing of bolts causes connection between hubs see paragraph [0060]) and to the outboard hub at the second end with an outboard hub clamp (other 125).
In regards to claim 4, Dudurovic further discloses a guiding and alignment system with at least one inboard guide (161) with a fixed position in relation to the inboard hub;
an outboard guide (other 161) for each of the least at least one inboard guide with a fixed position in relation to the outboard hub and in guiding cooperation with the at least one inboard guide,
wherein a space allowed by the at least one inboard guide and the outboard guide for each of the least at least one inboard guide is formed between an end of the inboard hub and an end of the outboard hub to allow room for the tubular saver sub (shown in fig. 3).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 27 August 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that the drawings need not show the features for one of ordinary skill in the art to understand the claimed invention. The examiner disagrees. While the features are present in the figures, they are not indicated by a reference numeral and it makes it unclear to one of ordinary skill in the art where these features are. For example, the examiner was unsure of where said features were before receiving annotated figures from applicant in their remarks. In order for proper understanding of the invention, the above features need to be labeled with a reference numeral in the figures.
In response to applicant’s arguments regarding the amended language, see the updated rejection above which shows how this limitation is disclosed by Dudurovic.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZACHARY T DRAGICEVICH whose telephone number is (571)270-0505. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 - 4:30 EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew D. Troutman can be reached at (571) 270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ZACHARY T DRAGICEVICH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679 10/08/2025